Julia Wada has several mentors and sponsors who’ve helped her navigate a career, but her strongest supporters grew out of managerial relationships.

“They had firsthand knowledge of what I could contribute,” said Wada, SM ’90, group vice president of corporate strategy and innovation at Toyota Financial Services. “They cultivated and grew my interests and talents. They asked me questions that made me think differently. They gave me stretch assignments. They took risks on me. They promoted me.”

Read more at: https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/what-these-9-female-leaders-learned-their-allies